Organiser & Moderator: Clive Cookson (UK), Science Editor, Financial Times & Member, IMMC ESOF 2016. Aidan Gilligan (IRL), Founder & CEO, SciCom – Making Sense of Science & Vice-Chair, IMMC ESOF 2016 / GB Euroscience.

Tuesday 26th July, 2016: 14h15 – 15h30
ESOF 2016 MANCHESTER

Session Abstract:

Which matters most – an individual’s right to be forgotten or society’s right to know about their past? For example, if a murderer or paedophile serves a prison sentence, why should his or her neighbours be aware? Who should decide if a request for delisting and deletion of information, videos or photographs from a publicly available database is valid? Does it risk decreasing the quality of the Internet through censorship or even rewriting history?

Organiser: Dr Thomas Hartung (DE), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health. Aidan Gilligan (IRL), Founder & CEO, SciCom – Making Sense of Science.

Tuesday 26th July, 2016: 17h10 – 18h25
ESOF 2016 MANCHESTER

Session Abstract:

Like it or not, animal testing is key to public health. But doubts are growing – not only for ethical reasons, but also in terms of costs, long study times, and a lack of accuracy – rabbit skin is not human skin. Billions are spent on compulsory testing at circa €20 million for a pesticide or €10 million for a new drug. Yet, the majority of the 7,000 flavours in e-cigarettes, the 5,000 additives in food or the 3,000 fragrances we use every day have never been tested.

Organiser: Dr. Thomas Hartung (DE), Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Konstanz, Germany & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences & Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Co-organiser: Aidan Gilligan (IRL), Founder, CEO SciCom – Making Sense of Science & Euroscience.

Wednesday 27th July, 2016: 12h50 – 14h05
ESOF 2016 MANCHESTER

Session Abstract:

Independent clinical trials are fundamental to improving the results, safety and cost-effectiveness of our health care systems. Yet, the exorbitant costs and acceptance hurdles involved often limit their scope to new products i.e. they are profit-driven and industry-led. Money matters. Important clinical interventions, surgery, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, public health measures etc. are of less interest to commercial sponsors seeking the lucrative benefits of primarily drug and device authorisation. While investigator-driven studies now find some support in the US, EU and elsewhere, they just cannot match the resources available for commercial clinical trials.

Organised by Aidan Gilligan (IRL), Founder, CEO SciCom - Making Sense of Science; Member of the Governing Board of Euroscience. Co-organised by: Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa.

Wednesday 9th December, 2015: 11h00 – 12h30
Science Forum South Africa


Session Description

In theory, access to breakthroughs in health science is a global public good. In practice, your life expectancy and quality of life depends on where you live and what socio-economic standing you have. This session address a wide variety of complex issues, ranging from individual lifestyle choices to environmental exposure factors, as well as the affordability of medical and health-care facilities.